
Computer | Definition, History, Operating Systems, & Facts
Jun 16, 2025 · A computer is a programmable device for processing, storing, and displaying information. Learn more in this article about modern digital electronic computers and their …
Computer - Technology, Invention, History | Britannica
Jun 16, 2025 · The mill was the calculating unit, analogous to the central processing unit (CPU) in a modern computer; the store was where data were held prior to processing, exactly …
What is a computer? | Britannica - Encyclopedia Britannica
A computer is a machine that can store and process information. Most computers rely on a binary system, which uses two variables, 0 and 1, to complete tasks such as storing data, calculating …
Computer - History, Technology, Innovation | Britannica
Jun 16, 2025 · The history of the solving of these problems is the history of the computer. That history is covered in this section, and links are provided to entries on many of the individuals …
computer summary | Britannica
computer, Programmable machine that can store, retrieve, and process data. A computer consists of the central processing unit (CPU), main memory (or random-access memory, RAM), and …
Personal computer (PC) | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica
Jun 11, 2025 · personal computer (PC), a digital computer designed for use by only one person at a time.
Computer - Memory, Storage, Processing | Britannica
Jun 16, 2025 · Computer - Memory, Storage, Processing: The earliest forms of computer main memory were mercury delay lines, which were tubes of mercury that stored data as ultrasonic …
Computer - Home Use, Microprocessors, Software | Britannica
Jun 16, 2025 · Computer - Home Use, Microprocessors, Software: Before 1970, computers were big machines requiring thousands of separate transistors. They were operated by specialized …
Digital computer | Evolution, Components, & Features | Britannica
Since the development of the Harvard Mark I, the digital computer has evolved at a rapid pace. The succession of advances in computer equipment, principally in logic circuitry, is often …
Computer - Supercomputing, Processing, Speed | Britannica
Jun 16, 2025 · Computer hardware. The physical elements of a computer, its hardware, are generally divided into the central processing unit (CPU), main memory (or random-access …